McClarkin welcomes strong pro-TTIP vote

The European Parliament has sent a welcome strong message that all issues are open to negotiation between the EU and USA as it seeks to find agreement
on a game-changing trade and investment partnership.

Conservative Trade Spokesman in the European Parliament Emma McClarkin - MEP for the East Midlands - welcomed the parliament's decision and
particularly its decision not to lay down red lines on investor protection at this early stage.

An amendment had been tabled by left wing MEPs seeking to demand that an investor-state-dispute-settlement (ISDS) clause be ruled out of any agreement.
The rejection of the amendment was supported by Ms McClarkin who believes that European investors must be able to ensure non-discriminatory treatment
in the US, and with a proposal on the table to reform ISDS so that it is more transparent and includes additional safeguards, any refusal to consider
it is premature.

Although the parliament's adoption of a strongly pro-TTIP position is not binding on the negotiators, the parliament must give consent to any eventual
deal.

Ms McClarkin is now urging the European Commission and the US Trade Rep to take this vote as a signal to redouble their efforts.

She said: "This vote has injected a dose of caffeine into TTIP negotiations.

"The parliament is right not to take investor protection off the table at this early stage. This resolution should be about telling the USA what we
do want in a balanced and ambitious agreement, not setting down red lines that risk scuppering the talks. ISDS needs to be reformed and we should give
those reforms a chance before ruling out any form of ISDS in this agreement when there are already 1400 ISDS clauses in EU Member States' bilateral
investment treaties.

"TTIP is worth far too much to our economy and to everybody's pocket for us to let it fail. This agreement is not just about the wider issues of growth,
jobs and investment but it would have tangible benefits too such as an estimated 17 percent saving on the price of shoes, 12 percent on jeans and even
30 percent on sweets.

"We will continue to push for an ambitious and comprehensive agreement that will benefit people across Europe. We cannot begin to seriously grow Europe's
economy without opening up for trade, and this agreement would show the world that we mean business."